Data propagation and mapping system

TECHNICAL FIELD

0001The present disclosure relates to systems and techniques for adaptive and transparent entity screening. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to adaptive and transparent entity screening that may be configured to continuously reassess a match between pairs of entities in a way that is easily reviewable by a user.

BACKGROUND

0002Large data stores represent a vast collection of information that may be utilized or relied upon by programs, applications, or even other data stores. Often, valuable data or information is encoded in a specific format in a data store for efficient organization, storage, and retrieval (e.g., information may be organized and stored as tabular entries in a large spreadsheet). Because a data store may contain information that is used by another data store, a receiving data store must identify changes in information in a transmitting data store and update relevant data entries accordingly. However, because a data store may not recognize or identify received data in an incompatible storage format, there is a need to transform data from one storage format to one or more other storage formats and transmit the transformed data to the appropriate data stores.

SUMMARY

0003The systems, methods, and devices described herein each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, several non-limiting features will now be discussed briefly.

0004Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Neither this summary nor the following detailed description purports to define or limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

0005One aspect of the disclosure provides a system for data propagation and mapping. The system comprises a first non-transitory computer storage medium configured to store a data set representable in a first storage format, a second non-transitory computer storage medium configured to store a data set representable in a second storage format, a third non-transitory computer storage medium configured to at least store computer-executable instructions, and one or more computer hardware processors. The one or more computer hardware processors may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to at least identify, in the first non-transitory computer storage medium, one or more data entries storing changed information in a data set; filter the one or more identified data entries in the first non-transitory computer storage medium to generate a subset of filtered data entries, transmit the filtered data entry to a pipeline configured to map a data entry in the first storage format to a data entry in the second storage format, and transmit the mapped data entry to the second non-transitory computer storage medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an overview of an example data propagation and mapping system.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates one embodiment of a database system using an ontology.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates one embodiment of a system for creating data in a data store using a dynamic ontology.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a sample user interface using relationships described in a data store using a dynamic ontology.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an example process for data propagation and mapping from the system point of view.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an example process for the mapping pipeline.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats before any changes occur.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats where one database stores changed information.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7C</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats where the changed information in a first database is propagated to a second database.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram of an example computing system configured to perform data propagation and mapping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0000Overview

0016For purposes of improving accuracy and reliability, it is advantageous that a change to information in one data store is propagated to other data stores that have or use similar information. However, because not all data stores use identical formatting, a data store may not be able to recognize or identify received data if the transmitting data store formats data differently than the receiving data store. Thus, examples of technical problems include identifying changes to a data set, propagating the changes in data to one or more recipients, mapping the propagated data from a first storage format to a second storage format, and transmitting the mapped data to the one or more recipients.

0017The data propagation and mapping system identifies data entries storing changed information in a first database using a first storage format and converts the data entries into a second storage format so that the changed data may be transmitted to and stored in a second database.

0018The system monitors one or more data sets in a first data store to identify data entries storing changed information. The system may, for example, periodically receive from a first database all data sets stored in the database. The system may then examine each data entry in all the received data sets to detect discrepancies between the received data entry and a previous version of the data entry. Because not all data entries from the first database may be relevant to the second database, data entries may be filtered according to properties such as data type, or object identifier.

0019The system may funnel data entries from the first database into a mapping pipeline to transform data stored in a first storage format into data stored in a second storage format. The mapping pipeline may comprise a number of blocks configured to execute the overall mapping process. For example, a receiving block may simply receive a data entry represented in a first storage format, a transformation block may identify properties in the data entry that are not found in the second storage format, strip the property from the data entry, and structure the data to match the second storage format, and an output block may output the data entry in the second storage format. The system may transmit the output of the mapping pipeline to the second database. Although some embodiments transform data entries using only one mapping pipeline, other examples may utilize different implementations. For example, an example system may pass data entries through multiple mapping pipelines in a chain to iterate multiple changes throughout the entire pipeline.

0000Terms

0020In order to facilitate an understanding of the systems and methods discussed herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined below, as well as other terms used herein, should be construed to include the provided definitions, the ordinary and customary meaning of the terms, and/or any other implied meaning for the respective terms. Thus, the definitions below do not limit the meaning of these terms, but only provide exemplary definitions.

0021Entity: An individual, a group of individuals (e.g., a household of individuals, a married couple, etc.), a business, or other organization.

0022Data Object or Object: A data container for information representing specific things in the world that have a number of definable properties. For example, a data object can represent an entity such as a person, a place, an organization, a market instrument, or other noun. A data object can represent an event that happens at a point in time or for a duration. A data object can represent a document or other unstructured data source such as an e-mail message, a news report, or a written paper or article. Each data object may be associated with a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the data object. The object's attributes (e.g. metadata about the object) may be represented in one or more properties.

0023Object Type: Type of a data object (e.g., Person, Event, or Document). Object types may be defined by an ontology and may be modified or updated to include additional object types. An object definition (e.g., in an ontology) may include how the object is related to other objects, such as being a sub-object type of another object type (e.g. an agent may be a sub-object type of a person object type), and the properties the object type may have.

0024Properties (or “Attributes”): information about a data object, such as an entity, that represent the particular data object. Each attribute of a data object has a property type and a value or values. Entity properties, for example, may include name, address, postal code, IP address, username, phone number, etc.

0025Link: A connection between two data objects, based on, for example, a relationship, an event, and/or matching properties. Links may be directional, such as one representing a payment from person A to B, or bidirectional.

0026Link Set: Set of multiple links that are shared between two or more data objects.

0027Data Store: Any computer readable storage medium and/or device (or collection of data storage mediums and/or devices). Examples of data stores include, but are not limited to, optical disks (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), magnetic disks (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, etc.), memory circuits (e.g., solid state drives, random-access memory (RAM), etc.), and/or the like. Another example of a data store is a hosted storage environment that includes a collection of physical data storage devices that may be remotely accessible and may be rapidly provisioned as needed (commonly referred to as “cloud” storage).

0028Database: Any data structure (and/or combinations of multiple data structures) for storing and/or organizing data, including, but not limited to, relational databases (e.g., Oracle databases, MySQL databases, etc.), non-relational databases (e.g., NoSQL databases, etc.), in-memory databases, spreadsheets, as comma separated values (CSV) files, eXtendible markup language (XML) files, TeXT (TXT) files, flat files, spreadsheet files, and/or any other widely used or proprietary format for data storage. Databases are typically stored in one or more data stores. Accordingly, each database referred to herein (e.g., in the description herein and/or the figures of the present application) is to be understood as being stored in one or more data stores.

0000Examples of Data Propagation and Mapping

0029<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an overview of an example data propagation and mapping system. The example system <b>100</b> may comprise a first database or data store <b>102</b>, a data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b>, and a second database or data store <b>124</b>. In some embodiments, the database <b>102</b>, data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b>, and database <b>124</b> may be connected to each other over network <b>112</b>. In some embodiments, network <b>112</b> may comprise the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.

0030Database <b>102</b> may comprise a data set <b>104</b> storing data entries. In some embodiments, data set <b>104</b> may comprise a number of data objects <b>106</b> and <b>108</b>. In some embodiments, data objects <b>106</b> and <b>108</b> may comprise the same type of information (e.g., names of people). In some embodiments, the data objects may comprise different types of information. By way of example, data object <b>106</b> may store the name of a person while data object <b>108</b> stores data related to a geographic landmark. Data set <b>104</b> may further comprise a link <b>110</b> connecting data objects <b>106</b> and <b>108</b> according to a shared data object property or relationship. By way of example, if data objects <b>106</b> and <b>108</b> represented employees in a business, link <b>110</b> may connect data objects <b>106</b> and <b>108</b> to represent the fact that the two employees are colleagues in the same business. Database <b>102</b> may be in communication with the data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b> via a network <b>112</b>. For example, database <b>102</b> may transmit a copy of data set <b>104</b> over network <b>112</b> to the data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b>.

0031Database <b>124</b> may comprise a data set <b>126</b> comprising a series of data entries <b>128</b>, <b>130</b>, and <b>132</b>. Database <b>124</b> may store data entries <b>126</b>, <b>130</b>, <b>132</b> in a different storage format than in database <b>102</b>. For example, while information may be stored as data objects connected by links in database <b>102</b>, information may instead be stored as tabular entries in a spreadsheet format in database <b>124</b>.

0032Data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b> may be configured to transform data from a first storage format to a second storage format and may comprise a number of component engines and data stores. In the example system of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b> comprises an identification engine <b>116</b>, a filtering engine <b>118</b>, a mapping pipeline <b>120</b>, and a data store <b>122</b>. In some embodiments, data store <b>122</b> may comprise a non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to at least store computer-executable instructions used to execute the processes of the identification <b>116</b>, filtering engine <b>118</b>, and mapping pipeline <b>120</b>.

0033The identification engine <b>116</b> may monitor database <b>102</b> for data entries storing changed information and may be configured to receive an entire data set or one or more data entries. In some embodiments, the identification engine may monitor database <b>102</b> by periodically transmitting a polling request to database <b>102</b>. The identification engine <b>116</b> may then receive a response transmission from database <b>102</b> comprising all data entries in a data set or in multiple data sets. In some embodiments, the identification engine <b>116</b> may also determine which databases should receive the output of the data propagation and mapping system <b>114</b> by determining whether a particular data entry in data set <b>104</b> is linked to or used by a program, application, or other database. In some embodiments, the identification engine <b>116</b> may also determine the differences between the first storage format and a second storage format for subsequent use in the mapping pipeline <b>120</b>.

0034The filtering engine <b>118</b> may filter the data entries received or identified by the identification engine <b>116</b> to generate a subset of filtered data entries. For example, if database <b>124</b> only stored data entries related to people, the filtering engine <b>118</b> may iterate through each data entry transmitted from database <b>102</b> and received by identification engine <b>116</b> to determine whether the data entry stores information relate to people. In some embodiments, the filtering may occur by examining the content of the data entry itself or by examining data entry properties. By way of example, the filtering engine <b>118</b> may filter data set <b>104</b> for people data entries by checking to see if data objects <b>106</b> or <b>108</b> store names of people or are associated with the data object property type “People.” In some embodiments, filtering according to a data property or characteristic may be executed incrementally such that a filter based on a second data property is executed after a filter based on a first data property. The filtering engine <b>118</b> may then pass along the filtered data set to the mapping pipeline <b>120</b>.

0035The mapping pipeline <b>120</b> may be configured to transform data entries stored in a first storage format into data entries stored in a second storage format. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline may comprise multiple steps performed by multiple blocks. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline may comprise a receiving block, a transformation block, and an output block. The receiving block may simply receive the filtered subset of data entries generated by the filtering engine <b>118</b> and pass each filtered data entry into the transformation block. The transformation block of the mapping pipeline may be configured to actually convert or transform the filtered data entry to match the storage format of a recipient program, application, or database. For example, database <b>102</b> may store information relating to a person called Mary Jane as data object <b>106</b> with associated data object properties corresponding to the person's age, ethnicity, age, marital status, etc. Database <b>124</b> may also store data entries of people, but may not track or store the data properties of ethnicity or age. The transformation block of the mapping pipeline may therefore delete the data properties ethnicity and age from the data entry. In addition to stripping information not stored or used by the second storage format, the transformation block may also format the filtered data entry itself to conform to format requirements of the second storage format. For example, the transformation block in mapping pipeline <b>120</b> may convert the data represented as linked data objects in database <b>102</b> to a series of tabulated entries stored in a spreadsheet in database and generate a mapped data entry that is compatible with a second storage format. In some embodiments, an output block of the mapping pipeline <b>120</b> may receive the mapped data entries from the transformation block and transmit the mapped data entries to the database <b>124</b> over network <b>112</b>. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline may receive a single data object from database <b>102</b> and output two or more data objects to be included in database <b>124</b>.

0036Although the above discussion assumed data propagation and mapping from database <b>102</b> to database <b>124</b>, in other embodiments the data propagation and mapping may instead flow from database <b>124</b> to database <b>102</b>. Additionally, although some embodiments of the data propagation and mapping system transform data entries using only one mapping pipeline, other examples may utilize different implementations. For example, an example system may pass data entries through multiple mapping pipelines in a chain to iterate multiple changes throughout the entire pipeline.

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an object-centric conceptual data model according to an embodiment. An ontology <b>205</b>, as noted above, may include stored information providing a data model for storage of data in the database <b>209</b>. The ontology <b>205</b> may be defined by one or more object types, which may each be associated with one or more property types. At the highest level of abstraction, data object <b>201</b> is a container for information representing things in the world. For example, data object <b>201</b> can represent an entity such as a person, a place, an organization, a market instrument, or other noun. Data object <b>201</b> can represent an event that happens at a point in time or for a duration. Data object <b>201</b> can represent a document or other unstructured data source such as an e-mail message, a news report, or a written paper or article. Each data object <b>201</b> is associated with a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the data object within the database system.

0038Different types of data objects may have different property types. For example, a “Person” data object might have an “Eye Color” property type and an “Event” data object might have a “Date” property type. Each property <b>203</b> as represented by data in the database system <b>210</b> may have a property type defined by the ontology <b>205</b> used by the database <b>205</b>.

0039Objects may be instantiated in the database <b>209</b> in accordance with the corresponding object definition for the particular object in the ontology <b>205</b>. For example, a specific monetary payment (e.g., an object of type “event”) of US$30.00 (e.g., a property of type “currency”) taking place on Mar. 27, 2009 (e.g., a property of type “date”) may be stored in the database <b>209</b> as an event object with associated currency and date properties as defined within the ontology <b>205</b>. The data objects defined in the ontology <b>205</b> may support property multiplicity. In particular, a data object <b>201</b> may be allowed to have more than one property <b>203</b> of the same property type. For example, a “Person” data object might have multiple “Address” properties or multiple “Name” properties.

0040Each link <b>202</b> represents a connection between two data objects <b>201</b>. In one embodiment, the connection is either through a relationship, an event, or through matching properties. A relationship connection may be asymmetrical or symmetrical. For example, “Person” data object A may be connected to “Person” data object B by a “Child Of” relationship (where “Person” data object B has an asymmetric “Parent Of” relationship to “Person” data object A), a “Kin Of” symmetric relationship to “Person” data object C, and an asymmetric “Member Of” relationship to “Organization” data object X. The type of relationship between two data objects may vary depending on the types of the data objects. For example, “Person” data object A may have an “Appears In” relationship with “Document” data object Y or have a “Participate In” relationship with “Event” data object E. As an example of an event connection, two “Person” data objects may be connected by an “Airline Flight” data object representing a particular airline flight if they traveled together on that flight, or by a “Meeting” data object representing a particular meeting if they both attended that meeting. In one embodiment, when two data objects are connected by an event, they are also connected by relationships, in which each data object has a specific relationship to the event, such as, for example, an “Appears In” relationship.

0041As an example of a matching properties connection, two “Person” data objects representing a brother and a sister, may both have an “Address” property that indicates where they live. If the brother and the sister live in the same home, then their “Address” properties likely contain similar, if not identical property values. In one embodiment, a link between two data objects may be established based on similar or matching properties (e.g., property types and/or property values) of the data objects. These are just some examples of the types of connections that may be represented by a link and other types of connections may be represented; embodiments are not limited to any particular types of connections between data objects. For example, a document might contain references to two different objects. For example, a document may contain a reference to a payment (one object), and a person (a second object). A link between these two objects may represent a connection between these two entities through their co-occurrence within the same document.

0042Each data object <b>201</b> can have multiple links with another data object <b>201</b> to form a link set <b>204</b>. For example, two “Person” data objects representing a husband and a wife could be linked through a “Spouse Of” relationship, a matching “Address” property, and one or more matching “Event” properties (e.g., a wedding). Each link <b>202</b> as represented by data in a database may have a link type defined by the database ontology used by the database.

0043<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components and data that may be used in identifying and storing data according to an ontology. In this example, the ontology may be configured, and data in the data model populated, by a system of parsers and ontology configuration tools. In the embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, input data <b>300</b> is provided to parser <b>302</b>. The input data may comprise data from one or more sources. For example, an institution may have one or more databases with information on credit card transactions, rental cars, and people. The databases may contain a variety of related information and attributes about each type of data, such as a “date” for a credit card transaction, an address for a person, and a date for when a rental car is rented. The parser <b>302</b> is able to read a variety of source input data types and determine which type of data it is reading.

0044In accordance with the discussion above, the example ontology <b>205</b> comprises stored information providing the data model of data stored in database <b>209</b>, and the ontology is defined by one or more object types <b>310</b>, one or more property types <b>316</b>, and one or more link types <b>330</b>. Based on information determined by the parser <b>302</b> or other mapping of source input information to object type, one or more data objects <b>201</b> may be instantiated in the database <b>209</b> based on respective determined object types <b>310</b>, and each of the objects <b>201</b> has one or more properties <b>203</b> that are instantiated based on property types <b>316</b>. Two data objects <b>201</b> may be connected by one or more links <b>202</b> that may be instantiated based on link types <b>330</b>. The property types <b>316</b> each may comprise one or more data types <b>318</b>, such as a string, number, etc. Property types <b>316</b> may be instantiated based on a base property type <b>320</b>. For example, a base property type <b>320</b> may be “Locations” and a property type <b>316</b> may be “Home.”

0045In an embodiment, a user of the system uses an object type editor <b>324</b> to create and/or modify the object types <b>310</b> and define attributes of the object types. In an embodiment, a user of the system uses a property type editor <b>326</b> to create and/or modify the property types <b>316</b> and define attributes of the property types. In an embodiment, a user of the system uses link type editor <b>328</b> to create the link types <b>330</b>. Alternatively, other programs, processes, or programmatic controls may be used to create link types and property types and define attributes, and using editors is not required.

0046In an embodiment, creating a property type <b>316</b> using the property type editor <b>326</b> involves defining at least one parser definition using a parser editor <b>322</b>. A parser definition comprises metadata that informs parser <b>302</b> how to parse input data <b>300</b> to determine whether values in the input data can be assigned to the property type <b>316</b> that is associated with the parser definition. In an embodiment, each parser definition may comprise a regular expression parser <b>304</b>A or a code module parser <b>304</b>B. In other embodiments, other kinds of parser definitions may be provided using scripts or other programmatic elements. Once defined, both a regular expression parser <b>304</b>A and a code module parser <b>304</b>B can provide input to parser <b>302</b> to control parsing of input data <b>300</b>.

0047Using the data types defined in the ontology, input data <b>300</b> may be parsed by the parser <b>302</b> determine which object type <b>310</b> should receive data from a record created from the input data, and which property types <b>316</b> should be assigned to data from individual field values in the input data. Based on the object-property mapping <b>301</b>, the parser <b>302</b> selects one of the parser definitions that is associated with a property type in the input data. The parser parses an input data field using the selected parser definition, resulting in creating new or modified data <b>303</b>. The new or modified data <b>303</b> is added to the database <b>209</b> according to ontology <b>205</b> by storing values of the new or modified data in a property of the specified property type. As a result, input data <b>300</b> having varying format or syntax can be created in database <b>209</b>. The ontology <b>205</b> may be modified at any time using object type editor <b>324</b>, property type editor <b>326</b>, and link type editor <b>328</b>, or under program control without human use of an editor. Parser editor <b>322</b> enables creating multiple parser definitions that can successfully parse input data <b>300</b> having varying format or syntax and determine which property types should be used to transform input data <b>300</b> into new or modified input data <b>303</b>.

0048For example, in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, relationship <b>404</b> is based on a payment associated with the individuals indicated in person data objects <b>421</b> and <b>423</b>. The link <b>404</b> represents these shared payments (for example, the individual associated with data object <b>421</b> may have paid the individual associated with data object <b>423</b> on three occasions). The relationship is further indicated by the common relationship between person data objects <b>421</b> and <b>423</b> and financial account data object <b>428</b>. For example, link <b>411</b> indicates that person data object <b>421</b> transferred money into financial account data object <b>428</b>, while person data object <b>423</b> transferred money out of financial account data object <b>428</b>. In another example, the relationships between person data objects <b>424</b> and <b>425</b> and flight data object <b>427</b> are indicated by links <b>406</b>, <b>409</b>, and <b>410</b>. In this example, person data objects <b>424</b> and <b>425</b> have a common address and were passengers on the same flight data object <b>427</b>. In an embodiment, further details related to the relationships between the various objects may be displayed. For example, links <b>411</b> and <b>412</b> may, in some embodiments, indicate the timing of the respective money transfers. In another example, the time of the flight associated with the flight data object <b>427</b> may be shown.

0049Relationships between data objects may be stored as links, or in some embodiments, as properties, where a relationship may be detected between the properties. In some cases, as stated above, the links may be directional. For example, a payment link may have a direction associated with the payment, where one person object is a receiver of a payment, and another person object is the payer of payment.

0050In addition to visually showing relationships between the data objects, the user interface may allow various other manipulations. For example, the objects within database <b>108</b> may be searched using a search interface <b>450</b> (e.g., text string matching of object properties), inspected (e.g., properties and associated data viewed), filtered (e.g., narrowing the universe of objects into sets and subsets by properties or relationships), and statistically aggregated (e.g., numerically summarized based on summarization criteria), among other operations and visualizations.

0051Advantageously, the present disclosure allows users to interact and analyze electronic data in a more analytically useful way. Graphical user interfaces allow the user to visualize otherwise obscure relationships and patterns between different data objects. The present disclosure allows for greater scalability by allowing greater access and search capabilities regardless of size. Without using the present disclosure, observation and use of such relationships would be virtually impossible given the size and diversity of many users' present databases, (e.g. excel spreadsheets, emails, and word documents).

0052<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an example process for data propagation and mapping from the system point of view. The process begins at block <b>502</b>. At block <b>504</b>, the system <b>500</b> may identify changes to one or more data entries in a first data store. In some embodiments, identifying may comprise monitoring an entire data set for data entries storing changed information. In other embodiments, the system <b>500</b> may instead monitor only specific, previously determined data entries in a data set. In some embodiments, the system <b>500</b> may identify changes to one or more data entries in a first data store by issuing a polling request to the first data store. The first data store may respond to the polling request by transmitting a polling update identifying all data entries storing changed information since the last polling request. In some embodiments, the first data store may keep track of which data entries stored changed information using a variety of methods such as using an input bit or data entry property indicating that the stored information has been altered since the last polling update. In some embodiments, the identifying step may also comprise identifying databases, programs, or applications to transmit data to at the end of the data propagation and mapping process as well as the one or more recipient's storage format.

0053In block <b>506</b>, the system <b>500</b> may filter changes to the one or more data entries in the identified first data set. In some embodiments, filtering may be according to data properties or characteristics. For example, system <b>500</b> may filter a data set for data entries of a specific type (e.g., only look for people data entries) or according to an object identifier, index, or other data property or characteristic. In some embodiments, the filtering step may be advantageously executed prior to the identifying step to reduce the amount of data entries to transfer from the first database to the system, thereby reducing storage demands on the computing system. In some embodiments, filtering according to a data property or characteristic may be executed incrementally such that a filter based on a second data property is executed after a filter based on a first data property.

0054In block <b>508</b>, the filtered subset of data entries may be transmitted to a mapping pipeline. The mapping pipeline may comprise a number of blocks configured to execute the overall mapping process. For example, in some embodiments a receiving block may receive a data entry represented in a first storage format, a transformation or conversion block may identify properties in the data entry that are not found in the second storage format; strip the property from the data entry, and structure the data to match the second storage format, and an output block may output the data entry in the second storage format. The mapping pipeline will be discussed in further detail in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>.

0055After the filtered data entries are funneled through the mapping pipeline in block <b>508</b>, the system <b>500</b> may transmit the one or more mapped data entries to a second data store in block <b>510</b>. In some embodiments, the system <b>500</b> may transmit the one or more data entries to the recipient databases, programs, or applications previously identified in block <b>504</b>. The process ends in block <b>512</b>.

0056<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an example process for the mapping pipeline. The mapping pipeline begins the process <b>600</b> at block <b>602</b>. In block <b>604</b>, the mapping pipeline <b>600</b> may receive a data entry represented in a first storage format. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline may be configured to receive more than one data entry simultaneously. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline may be split into multiple steps or blocks configured to execute a specific portion of the mapping pipeline. For example, the mapping pipeline may have a dedicated receiving block configured to receive data entries in a first storage format.

0057The process may proceed to block <b>606</b> to determine whether the received data entry includes data properties not found in the second storage format. If the data entry has a property or characteristic not found or tracked in the second storage format, then the process proceeds to block <b>608</b> to strip the property or characteristic. For example, the first storage format may store people data objects with corresponding properties relating to age, citizenship, marital status, or last name, and the second storage format may also store people data entries but only track the person's last name and age. In this particular example, the mapping pipeline may then strip the citizenship and marital status data properties from the data entry. If all the properties or characteristics of the data entry are represented in the second storage format, then the mapping pipeline may leave the data entry and corresponding properties unaltered.

0058At block <b>610</b>, the mapping pipeline may convert the data entry from a first storage format to a second storage format. In some embodiments, the converting process may comprise generating a new, blank data entry according to the second storage format and populating information from the received data entry into the new data entry format. In other embodiments, the conversion may be according to other methods. The process may proceed to block <b>612</b> and output the result of the conversion as a mapped data entry. In some embodiments, the mapping pipeline process may be linear wherein the mapping pipeline will only receive a data entry in one storage format and output one data entry in a second storage format. However, in other embodiments, the mapping pipeline may be non-linear. For example, the mapping pipeline may receive one data entry stored in a first storage format and output one data entry in a second storage format and another data entry in a third storage format. In such embodiments, the mapping pipeline may receive a data object from a first database and output two or more data objects to be included in a second database. For example, where the second database stores information in multiple formats (e.g., plain text, tabular entries in a table, image files, etc.) the mapping pipeline may receive a data entry stored in a plain text format, output a data entry in a tabular format and a data entry in an image file format (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, GIF, etc.), and transmit both outputs to the second database. The process ends at block <b>614</b>. Although the embodiment of the mapping pipeline described in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> represents only one mapping pipeline, the data propagation and mapping system is not limited to using only one mapping pipeline. In some embodiments, an example system may pass data entries through multiple mapping pipelines in a chain to iterate multiple changes throughout the entire pipeline. By way of example, a first mapping pipeline may receive a data entry stored as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and output a data entry stored in a plain text file format. A second mapping pipeline may then receive the plain text output from the first mapping pipeline, transform the sequence of character codes from the plain text file into an organized table, and output the tabular entry to be included in the second database.

0059<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats before any changes occur. In the example presented in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref>, database <b>700</b> stores data objects <b>705</b>, <b>710</b>, <b>715</b>, and <b>720</b>. Data objects <b>705</b>, <b>710</b>, <b>715</b>, and <b>720</b> may not necessarily store the same type of information. For example, data objects <b>705</b> and <b>710</b> store information relating to people, data object <b>715</b> stores information related to a landmark, and data object <b>720</b> stores information related to an event. Each data object may be associated with a plurality of data object properties or characteristics. For example, data object <b>705</b> representing “Alex Douglas” is associated with marital status property <b>707</b>A, age property <b>707</b>B, and citizenship property <b>707</b>C. Different data objects may be associated with different types and numbers of data properties. By way of example, while data object <b>705</b> is associated with data properties <b>707</b>A, <b>707</b>B, and <b>707</b>C, data object <b>715</b> is only associated with location property <b>717</b>. Similarly, data object <b>720</b> is only associated with date property <b>722</b>. While data object <b>710</b> stores the same type of information as data object <b>705</b>, data object <b>710</b> is only associated with the marital status property <b>712</b>. Data objects <b>705</b> and <b>710</b> are connected by link <b>706</b> representing a particular relationship between data objects <b>705</b> and <b>710</b>. In the particular example in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7A-C</figref>, link <b>706</b> represents that the people represented by data objects <b>705</b> and <b>710</b> are business colleagues. Unlike database <b>700</b>, database <b>750</b> only stores data entries related to people. Furthermore, database <b>750</b> organizes the people data entries as tabular entries in a spreadsheet format. Database <b>750</b> comprises data properties <b>755</b>, <b>760</b>, <b>765</b>, <b>770</b>, and <b>775</b> which are represented as separate columns in the spreadsheet format. Each data entry in database <b>750</b> will contain a value for properties <b>755</b>, <b>760</b>, <b>765</b>, <b>770</b>, and <b>775</b>.

0060<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats where one database stores changed information. The information stored in database <b>700</b> has changed from the example presented in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref>. Specifically, data object <b>710</b> now reflects a name change from “Christine Chu” to “Christine Chang,” and marital status property <b>712</b> has changed from “single” to “married.” Additionally, though data object <b>705</b> still stores “Alex Douglas,” data properties <b>707</b>A and <b>707</b>B have changed. Specifically, marital status <b>707</b>A has changed from “single” to “married” and age property <b>707</b>B has changed from “25 years old” to “27 years old.” Because <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref> represents the state of the two databases before data propagation and mapping, the various changes to the data objects and properties stored in database <b>700</b> are not reflected in database <b>750</b>.

0061<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7C</figref> illustrates two example databases storing different types of data in different storage formats where the changed information in a first database is propagated to a second database. As a result, last name property <b>765</b>A is updated to reflect the name change in data object <b>710</b>. Similarly, marital status properties <b>775</b>A and <b>775</b>B are changed from “single” to “married” to reflect the changes to properties <b>707</b>A and <b>712</b>. Although the example represented in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7A</figref>, B, and C assumes data propagation and mapping from database <b>700</b> to database <b>724</b>, other embodiments may instead execute data propagation and mapping from database <b>724</b> to database <b>700</b>.

0000Additional Implementation Details and Embodiments

0062Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or mediums) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.

0063For example, the functionality described herein may be performed as software instructions are executed by, and/or in response to software instructions being executed by, one or more hardware processors and/or any other suitable computing devices. The software instructions and/or other executable code may be read from a computer readable storage medium (or mediums).

0064The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store data and/or instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device (including any volatile and/or non-volatile electronic storage devices), a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a solid state drive, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

0065Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

0066Computer readable program instructions (as also referred to herein as, for example, “code,” “instructions,” “module,” “application,” “software application,” and/or the like) for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, declarative programming languages, such as SQL, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. Computer readable program instructions may be callable from other instructions or from itself, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Computer readable program instructions configured for execution on computing devices may be provided on a computer readable storage medium, and/or as a digital download (and may be originally stored in a compressed or installable format that requires installation, decompression or decryption prior to execution) that may then be stored on a computer readable storage medium. Such computer readable program instructions may be stored, partially or fully, on a memory device (e.g., a computer readable storage medium) of the executing computing device, for execution by the computing device. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on a user's computer (e.g., the executing computing device), partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

0067Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

0068These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram(s) block or blocks.

0069The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk or solid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer may load the instructions and/or modules into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone, cable, or optical line using a modem. A modem local to a server computing system may receive the data on the telephone/cable/optical line and use a converter device including the appropriate circuitry to place the data on a bus. The bus may carry the data to a memory, from which a processor may retrieve and execute the instructions. The instructions received by the memory may optionally be stored on a storage device (e.g., a solid state drive) either before or after execution by the computer processor.

0070The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. In addition, certain blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate.

0071It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. For example, any of the processes, methods, algorithms, elements, blocks, applications, or other functionality (or portions of functionality) described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and/or fully or partially automated via, electronic hardware such application-specific processors (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), programmable processors (e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), application-specific circuitry, and/or the like (any of which may also combine custom hard-wired logic, logic circuits, ASICs, FPGAs, etc. with custom programming/execution of software instructions to accomplish the techniques).

0072Any of the above-mentioned processors, and/or devices incorporating any of the above-mentioned processors, may be referred to herein as, for example, “computers,” “computer devices,” “computing devices,” “hardware computing devices,” “hardware processors,” “processing units,” and/or the like. Computing devices of the above-embodiments may generally (but not necessarily) be controlled and/or coordinated by operating system software, such as Mac OS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, Windows OS (e.g., Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Server, etc.), Windows CE, Unix, Linux, SunOS, Solaris, Blackberry OS, VxWorks, or other suitable operating systems. In other embodiments, the computing devices may be controlled by a proprietary operating system. Conventional operating systems control and schedule computer processes for execution, perform memory management, provide file system, networking, I/O services, and provide a user interface functionality, such as a graphical user interface (“GUI”), among other things.

0073For example, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system <b>800</b> upon which various embodiments may be implemented. Computer system <b>800</b> includes a bus <b>802</b> or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a hardware processor, or multiple processors, <b>804</b> coupled with bus <b>802</b> for processing information such as data entries from one or more data stores. Hardware processor(s) <b>804</b> may be, for example, one or more general purpose microprocessors configured to execute data propagation and mapping instructions.

0074Computer system <b>800</b> also includes a main memory <b>806</b>, such as a random access memory (RAM), cache and/or other dynamic storage devices, coupled to bus <b>802</b> for storing data entries and instructions to be executed by processor <b>804</b>. Main memory <b>806</b> also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of data propagation and mapping instructions to be executed by processor <b>804</b>. Such instructions, when stored in storage media accessible to processor <b>804</b>, render computer system <b>800</b> into a special-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operations specified in the data mapping and propagation instructions.

0075Computer system <b>800</b> further includes a read only memory (ROM) <b>808</b> or other static storage device coupled to bus <b>802</b> for storing static information and instructions for processor <b>804</b>. A storage device <b>810</b>, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or USB thumb drive (Flash drive), etc., is provided and coupled to bus <b>802</b> for storing information and data propagation and mapping instructions.

0076Computer system <b>800</b> may be coupled via bus <b>802</b> to a display <b>812</b>, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or LCD display (or touch screen), for displaying graphical user interfaces or data entry information to a computer user. An input device <b>814</b>, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus <b>802</b> for communicating information and command selections to processor <b>804</b>. Another type of user input device is cursor control <b>816</b>, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor <b>804</b> and for controlling cursor movement on display <b>812</b>. This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane. In some embodiments, the same direction information and command selections as cursor control may be implemented via receiving touches on a touch screen without a cursor.

0077Computing system <b>800</b> may include a user interface module to implement a GUI that may be stored in a mass storage device as computer executable program instructions that are executed by the computing device(s). Computer system <b>800</b> may further, as described below, implement the techniques described herein using customized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/or program logic which in combination with the computer system causes or programs computer system <b>800</b> to be a special-purpose machine. According to one embodiment, the identifying, filtering, mapping, and transmitting techniques herein are performed by computer system <b>800</b> in response to processor(s) <b>804</b> executing one or more sequences of one or more computer readable program instructions contained in main memory <b>806</b>. Such instructions may be read into main memory <b>806</b> from another storage medium, such as storage device <b>810</b>. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory <b>806</b> causes processor(s) <b>804</b> to perform the identifying, filtering, mapping, and transmitting process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions.

0078Various forms of computer readable storage media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more computer readable program instructions to processor <b>804</b> for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk or solid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system <b>800</b> can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on bus <b>802</b>. Bus <b>802</b> carries the data to main memory <b>806</b>, from which processor <b>804</b> retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory <b>806</b> may optionally be stored on storage device <b>810</b> either before or after execution by processor <b>804</b>.

0079Computer system <b>800</b> also includes a communication interface <b>818</b> coupled to bus <b>802</b>. Communication interface <b>818</b> provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link <b>820</b> that is connected to a local network <b>822</b>. For example, communication interface <b>818</b> may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface <b>818</b> may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN (or WAN component to communicate with a WAN). Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface <b>818</b> sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. In some embodiments, communication interface <b>818</b> may allow computing system <b>800</b> to receive and transmit data entry information from one or more data stores.

0080Network link <b>820</b> typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link <b>820</b> may provide a connection through local network <b>822</b> to a host computer <b>824</b> or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) <b>826</b>. ISP <b>826</b> in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet” <b>828</b>. Local network <b>822</b> and Internet <b>828</b> both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link <b>820</b> and through communication interface <b>818</b>, which carry the digital data to and from computer system <b>800</b>, are example forms of transmission media.

0081Computer system <b>800</b> can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link <b>820</b> and communication interface <b>818</b>. In the Internet example, a server <b>830</b> might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet <b>828</b>, ISP <b>826</b>, local network <b>822</b> and communication interface <b>818</b>. In some embodiments, computing system <b>800</b> may receive and transmit data entry or data set information from one or more databases across network link <b>820</b>.

0082The received code may be executed by processor <b>804</b> as it is received, and/or stored in storage device <b>810</b>, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. The received data entry or data set information may be stored in storage device <b>810</b> and manipulated, analyzed, or processed by processor <b>804</b> according to data propagation and mapping instructions stored in or received by computing system <b>800</b>.

0083As described above, in various embodiments certain functionality may be accessible by a user through a web-based viewer (such as a web browser), or other suitable software program). In such implementations, the user interface may be generated by a server computing system and transmitted to a web browser of the user (e.g., running on the user's computing system). Alternatively, data (e.g., user interface data) necessary for generating the user interface may be provided by the server computing system to the browser, where the user interface may be generated (e.g., the user interface data may be executed by a browser accessing a web service and may be configured to render the user interfaces based on the user interface data). The user may then interact with the user interface through the web-browser. User interfaces of certain implementations may be accessible through one or more dedicated software applications. In certain embodiments, one or more of the computing devices and/or systems of the disclosure may include mobile computing devices, and user interfaces may be accessible through such mobile computing devices (for example, smartphones and/or tablets).

0084Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure. The foregoing description details certain embodiments. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the systems and methods should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the systems and methods with which that terminology is associated.

0085Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

0086The term “substantially” when used in conjunction with the term “real-time” forms a phrase that will be readily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, it is readily understood that such language will include speeds in which no or little delay or waiting is discernible, or where such delay is sufficiently short so as not to be disruptive, irritating, or otherwise vexing to a user.

0087Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” or “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is to be understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z, or a combination thereof. For example, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

0088The term “a” as used herein should be given an inclusive rather than exclusive interpretation. For example, unless specifically noted, the term “a” should not be understood to mean “exactly one” or “one and only one”; instead, the term “a” means “one or more” or “at least one,” whether used in the claims or elsewhere in the specification and regardless of uses of quantifiers such as “at least one,” “one or more,” or “a plurality” elsewhere in the claims or specification.

0089The term “comprising” as used herein should be given an inclusive rather than exclusive interpretation. For example, a general purpose computer comprising one or more processors should not be interpreted as excluding other computer components, and may possibly include such components as memory, input/output devices, and/or network interfaces, among others.

0090While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it may be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices or processes illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As may be recognized, certain embodiments of the inventions described herein may be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately from others. The scope of certain inventions disclosed herein is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.